, 1887-04-28
WARRINGTON NOTES.
FARMERS APPEAL.

Ouhlorud teleSTapueu 10 tIle lnteT-State
commission that manufacturers and
dealers in agricultural implements
have made advance in their wares, al
leging that this was forced upon them
b. the interstate commerce act. Be-
lieving the act is being so interpreted
as to decrease the value Of all they
have to sell and increase the price of
what they buy these petitioners
ask such relief as it may
be within the commissioners power
to grant. Letters of inquiry from repre-
sentatives of leading commercial and
industrial interests in all sections in
dicate that when the public shall have
been fully instructed with regard to
the necessary forms of procedure, the
commission will have its dockets full
to overflowing of cases involving deli
cate questions Of great importance to
the community, other than those re-
lating to the long and short haul
feature.
EXAMINING PLANS.
The board appointed to examine the
designs for the 6OOO. ton armored vessels
met at the navy department to-day
and began its work.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
The total receipts of the govern
mont so far this month are $27 ,134 900 !;
total expenditures $11 ,623, ,254, being a
net gain for the month of $15,51O, ,845.
Heavy receipts and the comparatively
light disbursements indicate cores
pondingly large reduction in the public
debt for the month, which is now es-
timated at between $12,OOO,OOO and
$15, 600, 900.
AN IMPORTANT LAND CASE.
The president has sent to the secre-
tary OF interior, the following letter in
relation to the controversy between
Guilford L. Miller, settler, and u rail
road corporation involving the ques-
ton Of ownership of certain lands.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, April 25, 1875
Dear Sir:-I have examined with
much care and interest the ques-
tions involved in the conflicting of
claims of Guilford l.. Miller and the
Northern Pacific Railroad Co., to GER
tain public lands in Washington terri
tory. The legal aspects of the case
have been examined and passed upon
by several officers of the government,
who do not agree in their conclusions.
Miller claims to be settler upon the
land in question whose possession dates
from 1878. He alleges that he has made
substantial Improvements upon this
land and cultivated the same, and it
appears that he fled his claim to the
same under the homestead law on the
Goth day of December, 1884. The
railroad company contends that this
land 10 within the territory or area
from which it was entitled TO select
such quantity Of public land as might
be necessary to supply any deficiency
that should be found to exist in the
specified land mentioned in the grant
by the government to said company
in aid OF the construction of the road,
such deficiency being contemplated
as likely to arise from paramount right
of private parties and settlers within
the territory embracing said granted
lands, and that the land in dispute was
thus selected by the company on the
10Th day of December, 1883. A large
tract, including this land, was with
drawn by order of the in
terror department from sale, and
from pre-emption and homestead
entry in 1872 in anticipation Of the
construction of said railroad and the
deficiency in its granted lands. In
1880, upon filing map of the definite
location OF the road, the land in con-
troversy and much more, which had
been so withdrawn, was found to lie
outside the limits which included the
granted land, but its withdrawal and
reservation from settlement and entry
under our land laws was continued
upon the theory that it was within
the limits of indemnity lands which
might be selected by the COM
pany provided in the law making the
grant. The legal points in this con-
troversy turned upon the validity and
effect of the withdrawal and reserva-
tion of this land and continu-
ance thereof. The attorney gen.
eral is OF the opinion that
such withdrawal and reservation
were at all times effectual, and that
they operated to prevent Miller from
acquiring any interest in or right to
the land claimed by him. With this
Interpretation of the law and
former orders and action OF the inte-
rior department it will be sc'n that
the effect has been IL withdrawal and
reservation since 1872 of thousands il
not millions OF acres of these lands
from the operation OF the land laws of
the United States, placing them be-
yond the reach of our citizens desiring
under our laws to settle and make
homes upon the same, and that this
has been done for the benefit of
railroad company having no fixed,
certain or definite interest in such
lands. In this manner the beneficial
policy and intention OF the govern
ment in relation to the public domain
have for all these years to